I get your complaint in general, but it does not seem like this is a good example of throwing random unrelated stuff in.
If I want to do writing I'll use one of the 6 tools on my PC more suited to that task.
It's _also_ useful in my apps dedicated to writing and even the text areas of browsers. I think it's all about implementation though, Apple's writing tools are quietly buried in the context menu for most text inputs. Microsoft has a tendency to be pushy and in your face about their latest AI offerings like shoving it into the Start Menu, or making it a prominent and visible element of their UI (Copilot in VSCode, even when you're not a subscriber) and the Verge's screenshot isn't enough for me to judge this by.
WordPad would be a much better place to shove in a complex feature like AI.
In these cases, the best tool is the one you've already got.
I use notepad to write quick notes or to strip formating from text.
(and i hate with a passion when a program tries to be "smart" - hello clippy)
I don't believe it's useful. I don't think Notepad is a "writing app." And I'm fairly certain not a single user in the history of ever has asked for this.
It depends on the company.
If you work for a hyper-scale tech company that only cares about money money money, then yeah -- nobody's getting promoted for improving core functionality.
But I've worked at several companies where that sort of thing is not only rewarded, but celebrated. One was a factory. Another was healthcare. Tech is the aberation, but on HN we pretend that it's normal and good.
A magazine would be an improvement. I worked in a place where the owners were very susceptible to airport billboard ads.
Every time they came back from a trip, we would brace for change.
It scares me every time because they wouldn't be splashing out the big bucks for those billboards if they weren't effective, and I absolutely don't want the military (or any other entity engaging in major expenditures) to be making those decisions based on billboards.
This explains why airports are entirely covered in ads that seem to be aimed at C-level execs only (nobody else gives a shit).
Maybe taking a step back here, what core functionality is missing from notepad? I see this as a fairly feature complete tool for a core set of behaviors already.
The possibilities are infinite.
Also with Gaia it feels like very single year they just have to tweak and change the interface to the point where nothing is easy or intuitive anymore. It's like designers need to justify their jobs so they just keep making change on top of change and departing from what made sense, just to make changes, just to be doing something.
better is the enemy of good. /s